Support bracket for countertops and shelving

ABSTRACT

In a first embodiment, a wall mount bracket including an elongated cantilevered support arm and spaced apart mounting plates are used to secure a countertop thereatop. Alternately, the elongated arm cooperates with a mounting area for use with a kitchen island or similar mounting. The cantilevered arms define floating arms which are readily mounted to support structures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/106,766, filed Aug. 21, 2018 which is acompletion application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/319,765, filed Aug. 24, 2017, for a SUPPORT BRACKET FOR COUNTERTOPSAND SHELVING, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns mounting brackets. More particularly thepresent invention concerns mounting brackets for facilitatinginstallation of cabinetry. Even more particularly the present inventionconcerns mounting brackets for use in conjunction with cabinetry andmethods of installation therefor.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known in the art relating to cabinetry to use brackets that areaffixed along a wall in a generally level and spaced apart fashion tosupport cabinetry and their accoutrements. For example, it is known tosupport a kitchen or bathroom counter or countertop with brackets thatare mounted flush with a wall surface, or to mount the countertop on topof a cabinet or set of cabinets. However, such conventional countertopbracketry may be difficult to install and may not support a heavy load.

The present invention, as described hereinafter provides improvedbracketry which is easily installed and which can support a heavy load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment hereof there is provided a bracket forinstallation below a countertop for supporting same. The bracketincludes an elongated channeled member having a top wall, a downwardlydepending sidewall and an opposed pair of flanges provided on theopposite side of the sidewall, which provide access to the bracketinterior or interior channel.

A pair of opposed downward depending plate elements are positionedrearwardly of the channel member to define means for mounting thebracket to a wall stud or the like.

In use the bracket of this embodiment is installed with a pair of spacedapart brackets. The countertop sits flush atop the pair of spaced apartbrackets.

The channel can be used for retaining electrical wires or the liketherein.

Fasteners, such as screws or the like can be used to secure a countertopthereto.

In a second embodiment hereof there is provided a bracket for use with“island” cabinetry of the type typically found in kitchens or similarenvironments. The bracket includes an elongated channel member having atop wall and pair of opposed downwardly depending, spaced apartsidewalls.

A mounting for the bracket is defined by a pair of spaced apart plates.The plates are dimensioned to mate with or seat a wall stud thereatop.

Fasteners, such as screws or the like can be used to secure a countertopthereto.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference ismade to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. Inthe drawing like reference characters refer to like parts throughout theseveral views in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a countertop support bracket inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an environmental view showing an installation using thecountertop support bracket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a supportbracket in accordance with the invention for use with island cabinetry;

FIG. 4 is a further perspective of the island mount; and

FIG. 5 is an environmental view showing the installation of the bracketof FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is depicted therein a countertopsupport bracket, generally, denoted at 10 in accordance with thisembodiment.

The bracket 10 includes an elongated arm 12 having an upper surface ortop wall 13, a bottom wall 15, an inner end 14, an opposite outer end16, a first sidewall 18 and a pair of opposed flanges 20,21.

At least one aperture 24 extend through the upper surface 13 of the arm12.

Optionally, at least one aperture 26 may extend through the firstsidewalls of the arm 12.

The aperture 26 is used to fasten a support, such as 2″×4″ to thebracket as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring again to FIG. 1 a U-shaped mount 30 extends rearwardly fromthe inner end 14 of the elongated arm 12. The mount includes a pair ofspaced apart plates 32, 34 which define a gap 35 therebetween and anintermediate plate 35 fixed to end 14 of the arm 12 that can envelop orenshroud a wall stud (not shown) to mount the support bracket thereto.Each plate 32,34 includes a plurality of apertures 36, through whichfasteners (not shown) may be inserted to secure the mount to the sidesof the wall stud. Each aperture 36 in one of the plates registers withone of the apertures in the other of the plates.

The elongated arm may optionally include an apertured front plate 38that is disposed between the first and second sides of the arm at theouter end of the arm. The plate 38 of the arm may include a plurality ofspaced apart apertures, as shown.

The open interior an be used to string electrical wiring, conduit orother necessary hardware for constructing the complete cabinet.

As shown in FIG. 2 support system for countertops in accordance withthis embodiment includes at least a first and second of the supportbrackets arranged in a cantilevered and substantially vertically aligneddisposition on a pair of spaced apart and vertical wall studs. Framingcan then be installed therearound with the countertop seated inposition. The first and second support brackets support a countertopseated thereatop.

The support bracket in accordance with the invention may be formed fromsteel, such as 12 gauge (0.105″) cold rolled steel or similar metal.

A powder coat or similar finish also may be applied to the member.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is depicted therein a secondembodiment hereof which generally comprises a mounting bracket 100intended for use with a kitchen type “island.” Such islands, as is knownto the skilled artisan, are usually centrally located within a kitchenor other area as a stand-alone cooking and or dish washing area.

The mounting bracket 100 hereof generally comprises an elongated arm 102and a mounting area 104 integrally formed therewith.

As shown in the drawing, the elongated arm 102 comprises a substantiallyinverted “U” defining a channel 103 and comprising a top wall 106 and apair of downwardly depending side walls 108,109. A substantiallytriangular truss 110 is provided on each side or leg of the “U” toprovide structural integrity to the bracket.

The mounting area 104 comprises a pair of spaced apart mounting plates114,116 extending rearwardly from the trusses and provide an openchannel 118 which communicates with the channel 103 provided by theelongated arm 102.

The mounting area 104 includes aperture 120 formed in each of the plates(only one of which is shown) and which are in registry to enablefasteners or the like (not shown) to project therethrough for securingthe bracket to a suitable support.

The truss 110 is generally disposed at the junction of the mounting area104 and the arm 102, and at a forward end of the mounting area 104.

The truss 110 has a generally angled, triangular shape, and providesadditional support for the cantilevered, elongated arm 102.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting area is disposed and formed at a heightbelow that of the elongated arm. The elongated arm and the mounting areacooperate to define the open channeled seating for seating a joist 122thereon.

It is to be appreciated from the preceding that there has been providedherein a mounting bracket which facilitates construction or floatingsurfaces that can support virtually any type of material or can have anytype of material secured thereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A mountingbracket for securing structure to a vertical support, comprising: (a) anelongated arm including a top wall and at least one sidewall, thebracket having an interior channel; and (b) means for mounting the armto a vertical support.
 2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the means formounting comprises: a pair of spaced apart mounting plates integral withthe elongated arm, the mounting plates being spaced apart and each platehaving at least one aperture, the apertures being in registry forreceiving a fastener therethrough to secure the bracket to the verticalsupport.
 3. The bracket of claim 2, which further comprises: adownwardly depending second sidewall integrally formed with the top walland spaced apart from the first sidewall, the sidewalls cooperating todefine an interior channel therebetween, the sidewalls and top wallcooperating to define an inverted U.
 4. The bracket of claim 3, furthercomprising a truss extending from each sidewall to an associatedmounting plate.
 5. The bracket of claim 4, wherein the spaced apartmounting plates have a height less than that of the elongated arm andtruss, the space above the top surface of the mounting plate and belowthe top wall of the elongated arm defining a seating area for engaging ajoist.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)